Israeli Junior National Hockey Team to Comes to Philadelphia

In an event to raise support for the sport of ice hockey in Israel, the Israeli Junior National Hockey Team will play an exhibition game, Thursday, October 20, beginning at 7:15PM, at the University of Pennsylvania Class of 1923 Arena, 3130 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

Their opponent will be the Philadelphia Little Flyers 16 Under "AAA" hockey team from Aston, Pennsylvania. Tickets are $12, which includes general admission and self-parking across from the Arena.

The Israel team, made up of players between the ages of 15 and 17, will be staying in the Philadelphia area from October 19 to 21. In addition to the exhibition game, the team will be hosted by the Hillel at Penn for their pre-game meal and reside with "host families" for the two evenings they are in town.

"We are fortunate and very excited about this unique opportunity for the Philadelphia Jewish Community to see these athletes play," said Co-Chairs for the Philadelphia event, David R. Goldenberg and Mark Weiss. They continued, "Many of the people we have spoken to are surprised that ice hockey is played in Israel. Jean Perron, the former coach of the 1986 Montreal Canadians Stanley Cup winning team is Team Israel's head coach."

"Ice hockey is an international sport," Goldenberg and Weiss said. Funds raised will support youth ice hockey programs in Israel and help the Israel Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) continue to sponsor and send Israel national teams around the globe to compete.

Philadelphia is one of six host cities on the Israel Junior National North American Tour 2005. Other participating cities include Miami, New York, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.